Ryan Laurie has reported the biggest pike to be landed from Longtown West Pond for four years. The Kirtlebridge, Dumfriesshire angler landed the 23lb 8oz pike during a pleasure session prior to the ACA British Pike Championship 2008 Qualifying match. Ryan fished a smelt suspended 3 feet below the surface under a float and experienced two dropped runs before his float disappeared for a third time only to pop back up again. When this happened Ryan gave a couple of turns of the reel handle just to move the bait and the pike took hold straight away and gave a good account of itself before it could be landed. Ryan’s fish is the biggest to be taken at the West Pond since Lee Corless smashed the venue’s pike record with a 25 pounder in 2003.
On Sunday 25th November 10 anglers fished the first ACA British Pike Championship 2008 Qualifying match to be held at Longtown West Pond this winter, raising some £30 for the ACA in the process. Alastair Paisley and Shaun Wall tied for first place; both landing a single 5lb 4oz pike from the 20 acre Cumbrian ex gravel pit situated 9 miles North of Carlisle. Alastair must have thought his look was in when just 30 minutes in to the match his float legered tuna oil injected sardine was picked up by the pike unfortunately it was Alastair’s only fish of the match. Shaun Wall equaled this with another pike of 5lb 4oz which took a fancy to his lamprey bait at around 1pm. Carlisle’s Les McVittie was the only other angler to catch on the day landing a 4lb 5oz pike on a fluorescent orange and yellow home made lure at around mid day.
The date of the next ACA British Pike Championship 2008 Qualifying match to be held at the West Pond is Sunday 9th December, 2007. Contact Chris Bowman on 01228 674519 or view www.bowmanfishman.fsnet.co.uk for further details.
